Serenity Now

A reminder from Rhett to me (and all my Type A soul mates and others who love to worry like I do)...

Say it with me:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can, 
And the wisdom to know the difference.
-Reinhold Niebuhr

Strength

Deja Vu

On the drive home from Cate's preschool today, I looked back at Charlotte and had such a sense of deja vu--it was unreal.  It reminded me of a picture I snapped of Cate two years ago while she was riding in Rhett's car.

Crazy, right?

Today

Etsy Shop Recommendation--Genesis Artworks

Cate and Charlotte have never been into bows and, frankly, I have never really loved them either.  We have received a few as gifts, but the girls always seem to pull them out and then I get busy trying to not lose them...at which I generally fail.  Plus, I think they can look too cutesy which is not really what I'm going for.

Except all that changed about a week ago.  I was looking a one of my friend's daughters pictures--she was at ballet class with the most darling white bow holding up half her hair.  I was instantly smitten.  Plus, Charlotte's hair is too short for most styles but a bow in an alligator clip is perfect.  And if Charlotte is wearing something, you can be sure Cate wants one too :+)

First I wanted to make them, but I quickly realized it is almost more expensive to make your own than buy a set.  Plus, mine would never look professional.  After looking a bit on Etsy, I found Genesis Artworks and thought I'd give them a whirl.  They offer alligator clips with a no slip grip and ribbon in tons of colors.  And the bows are only a couple dollars each if you buy a set.  So I did.

Just standing by the front steps holding a stuffed snake--you know, the usual.

We love these bows.  The girls have worn them daily since our box arrived and I die over the way they look!  I don't know the shop owner, but I love him/her.

Plus, I bought a Carolina blue one for Tarheel games and a red one for Xmas for both girls--yippee!  I am so excited!

Comparison

Just Like That

And, just like that, summer is over for us.  I told Cate goodbye this morning at preschool and with it, we said goodbye to summer.  Here is what we did to make the most of our last couple of weeks:

Our family did what every family likes to do--get in the car for hours with their young kids ;)  It was for a good cause--we visited Rhett's parents, siblings, and their kids.  We celebrated Poppa's 62nd (or was it 26th?) birthday and hung out with our favorite little people.

Cousin love--thanks for not flipping the bird, Finley!  (Sorry Deca,  I had to say it ;)

Poppa is a sucker for a card with a play on words! 

Cate offered to help with the cake.

Cute Finley.

Tossing the ball off the deck--a Kier tradition from the days of Sundance.

Poppa and his (little) girls.

Cate also wanted to prep for going back to school.  Prep=new outfits, new shoes, and a haircut.  Ah, a girl after my own heart.

Cate's first day outfit from the fanciest store we shop at--Tar-jay!  Charlotte also used her keen negotiation skills to get a new shirt.  Whatever did she pick, you may ask.  Real shocker here--a glittery Minnie Mouse ensemble.

Pink+glitter+rhinestones+light-up=a four-year-old's dream shoe.

Freshly cut hair, and a fancy lollipop to boot!

Don't worry, Charlotte got the goods too.

It happened earlier than I though, but we instituted movie night on Sunday nights at the end of summer.  Our movies so far have been cute and the girls have been so cute watching them.  Charlotte especially loves movie night--so far, it's pretty much the highlight of her life.

Ready to get this (pizza) party started.

Loving it.

We took movie night on the road when we visited Rhett's family.  This was a particularly suspenseful part of  the movie we picked--Friday the 13th.  Kidding, kidding!  We watched Alladin. 

This is movie night--in a nutshell.

And today, it was all over.  Bring on the fall!